What is Search Engine Optimization?

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of affecting the visibility of a website or a web page in a search engine’s “natural” or un-paid (“organic”) search results.

When you perform a search for something in a search engine, such as Google, the search engine will return 2 or 3 types of results. Traditionally found in the top or right side of your browser window will be paid or sponsored advertisements. Below that, you will find either map or local business listings, which are linked to a map found on the same page or organic search results based on web pages or websites the search engine feels is relevant to what you are searching for. Sometimes you see both the local map listings and organic listings and sometimes you only see the organic listings or search results.

The key is understanding that search engines make it a goal to return to you, the searcher, the most relevant web pages, websites and/or companies it feels best matches what you are looking for.

A first step in understanding if your website is optimized well for search engines is to ask yourself if your web pages or website is relevant to your products or service offerings. Another way to say is it is asking if you have a web page that specifically addresses a product or service offering you have with a web page on your website. We call these landing pages. The goal of a landing page is to specifically address a particular product or service offering your business provides. However, simply creating a page and populating it with the specifics of your product or service offering is not enough. You have to ensure your landing page is optimized well to be indexed properly in the search engines. Another way to say it is search engine optimization is designed to make sure your web pages or website is properly indexed with the search engines so your specific product or service offerings are able to be found by a prospective customer when they are using the search engines to locate them.

Is your website optimized well? There are tools and certainly professionals that can help you determine if your website is properly optimized.

Known Technology is a full service website development and online marketing firm that specializes in evaluating existing websites to determine what improvements and/or enhancements can increase your online visibility. To learn more, visit our search engine optimization page.